The History of the 27th United States
Infantry Regiment  "Wolfhounds"
1945-1966

Jim Malachowski, Association Historian

The Occupation

The war ended in the early August, with the dropping of the Atomic Bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the invasion of Japan was canceled. In October 1945, the Wolfhounds went peacefully ashore to perform occupation and training missions in Southern Honshu. The Regiment was Headquartered at Osaka where the Wolfhounds became associated with the Holy Family Home Orphanage. The support for the orphanage started with a Platoon Sergeant in B Company. The Red Cross chief took several Wolfhounds to the Orphanage on Christmas Eve 1945. When Sergeant Hugh O'Reilly's saw the terrible conditions the children were living under, he went back and raised support from the Regiment. Soldiers chipped in money each payday, Mess Sergeants discovered "extra" rations and the Regimental surgeon expanded his practice.

The support was soon transformed into an official relationship involving the entire Regiment when the Regimental Commander went looking for a bulldozer, that just happened to be clearing rubble at the orphanage. The story was later made into a Hollywood movie staring Aldo Ray and and Dick York called
"Three Stripes in the Sun."

Thanks to the tireless efforts of Master Sergeant O'Reilly this relationship continues today, as the Wolfhounds sponsor several children in Hawaii each summer and two soldiers spread Christmas Spirit in Osaka every Christmas. Wolfhounds still donate whatever they can each payday to the Holy Family Home.

The Korean War   

At the end of World War II, Korea (which had been under Japanese occupation during the war) was divided at the 38th parallel into the communist North and the democratic South. The Soviets actively organized the North Korean Army (NKA) with the intent of invading and conquering South Korea. On 25 June, 1950, the NKA crossed the 38th parallel, invading South Korea. President Truman, in conjunction with the United Nations (UN), condemned the invasion and deployed US forces to Korea to repel the aggression. There were no US combat units in South Korea at this time; the closest units were in Japan on occupation duty.

When the War broke out, the Battalion was in Japan on the southern island of Honshu. The Wolfhounds were soon chosen to lead the 25th infantry Division deployment to Korea. The Battalion was commanded by LTC Gilbert J. Check and the Regiment by Lieutenant Colonel Michael ("Mike") Michaelis (pronounced Ma-KAY-less). LTC Michaelis would lead the Wolfhounds to great fame during his command. During World War II, he had commanded a regiment of the 101st Airborne Division in Holland. In Korea, he would receive two battlefield promotions within six months, to full Colonel and Brigadier General. General Michaelis was an exemplary and hard leader, who believed in intense and demanding training. Before moving from Pohang to its area of operations, he assembled his officers and non-commissioned officers and told them he wanted the men stripped down, to weapons, ammo, water, and rations. All else would be discarded. LTC Michaelis had studied Oriental fighting tactics and jungle warfare after World War II. He told his leaders to always take the high ground overlooking your position; have every man drink a full canteen of water in the morning, then refill the canteen and ensure a proper level of body fluids throughout the day. In conclusion, he said, "Remember, you're here to kill and not to be killed."

The Regiment landed by ship at Pusan, Korea on 10 July, 1950, and was shortly thrust into battle to stem the onrushing NKA. Upon arriving the Regiment moved to Uisong, approximately 35 miles north of Taegu. From There they received orders on 13 July to move to Sangju; however, en route the Regiment was diverted to Hawanggan. From 24 to 29 July, the Regiment fought the NKA's 2nd Division at Hawanggan. On 24 July, during The engagements at Hawanggan, the Battalion clandestinely disengaged while covering the Regiments withdrawal. The next morning the NKA, thinking the Battalion was exposed, attacked into the vacated position and where caught in a massive engagement area. Soon LTC Michaelis ordered the combined fire of tanks, artillery, mortar, and small arms to fire into the engagement area. The Two NKA Battalions conducting the attack were destroyed. During operations around Hawanggan the Regiment inflicted over 3,000 casualties, before withdrawing in good order, at a cost of 53 KIA, 221 WIA, and 49 MIA. While other US and South Korean (ROK) units were retreating in disorder, this was the first action in which a US unit had skillfully fought the NKA to a standstill and still remained combat ready. For this action, the Regiment was awarded the first Presidential Unit Citation of the Korean War.

With retreating US and ROK forces now consolidated and conducting defensive operations around the port city of Pusan in southeast Korea, the Regiment became the US Eighth Army's reserve. The Wolfhounds quickly became well known as the 8th Army's "Fire Brigade", rushing to destroy NKA units who had broken through the defenses.

The next Wolfhound fight from 18 to 25 August would earn the Regiment's second Citation. The NKA had surrounded ROK units near Pohang and were now preparing to continue moving towards Taegu, in the northern sector of the Pusan Perimeter. The Wolfhounds and the 23rd Regiment dug in along the Tagu Road leading to Taegu and prepared to defend. The NKA 13th Division, leading the attack, collided with the Wolfhounds the night of 18 August. The Wolfhounds were fully prepared for a hard fight; high ground secure, mines laid, flares ready, all guns zeroed in. When the enemy came into range, Michaelis let loose a hail of frightening and deadly fires. Two NKA tanks an artillery piece, two trucks, and over 100 enemy troops were destroyed. The same scene was repeated for seven consecutive nights. The Wolfhound Battalion commanders remained magnificently cool and refused to yield one yard of ground. Bit by bit, they whittled down the strength of the enemy division, inflicting 4000 casualties. The persistent and noisy onrush of the NKA down this valley, coupled with tank and return fires, reminded the Wolfhounds of a bowling alley. This resolute stand was named the "Battle of the Bowling Alley."

The Eight Army commander, General Walton Walker, inspected the Wolfhound front on 20 August. Surveying the NKA carnage on the battlefield and the stout American positions, he declared that "Taegu is certainly saved." On 31 August, the NKA defeated, the Regiment went into reserve near Masan.

On 15 September, General Douglas MacArthur conducted the amphibious assault at Inchon which would eventually cut off the NKA at the Pusan Perimeter. On 19 September US units attacked out of the Perimeter. The Wolfhounds, attacking westward against retreating NKA units, captured Chin-ju on 28 September, secured the Chig-ni and Chonju Road, and began mop up operations. The landing at Inchon and the breakout from the Pusan Perimeter decisively broke the NKA's back and precipitated their withdrawal from South Korea.

Now the Korean War took a decisive turn, President Truman decided to invade North Korea and re-unite the two countries. From October through November 1950, UN forces pursued the NKA across the 38th parallel towards the Yalu River, which divided North Korea from Red China. In early October through November, the 27th Regiment was involved in the clearing of the Iron Triangle near Chorwon. The retreating NKA used the Iron Triangle as a guerrilla base of operations, conducting raids and ambushes. On 6 November the Regiment's I and R platoon (scouts) and a platoon from L Company were ambushed near Kunch-on and Sibyon-ni; fifteen Americans were murdered when they refused to give their captors information other than name, rank, and serial number.

On 24 November, the day after Thanksgiving, the 25th Division, part of the US I Corps, launched an advance towards Unsan. The Regiment was designated as the Corps reserve. However, Chinese Communist Forces (CCF), who had already moved into North Korea from China, savagely attacked UN forces on 25 November, causing a retreat across the entire front. Forced to conduct a fighting withdrawal, the 25th Division and the Wolfhounds withdrew to Yongbyon and then Sukchon, taking up defensive positions. Further retreats were ordered to the Imjin River and finally to Pyongtaek in early January, where the Division took up defensive positions along Line D. The CCF offensive had pushed US and UN forces out of North Korea and northern South Korea and recaptured Seoul, the South Korean capital. During this retreat, the Wolfhounds were frequently called upon to cover the withdrawal of other US units, always fighting hard and withdrawing in good order.

Since the Chinese offensive UN forces had only retreated; morale was low, and no offensive spirit remained. General Matthew B. Ridgeway, who took command of the Eighth Army in early December, desperately needed to restore the American soldier's fighting spirit. Calling upon Michaelis's Wolfhounds, he ordered the Regiment to attack in early January. Although the Wolfhounds encountered no resistance, its aggressive deployment forward of the Line D served as an important morale builder; the Eighth Army was no longer withdrawing, but attacking. In mid January, another attack was launched, code named Wolfhound. Attacking north, the Regiment cleared Osan and advanced to Suwon, withdrawing only when it was in danger of being trapped. This attack, like the earlier one, provided the US forces another much needed psychological uplift.

From late January to mid February, the fighting in Korea was characterized by attacks and counterattacks. During this time, Colonel (then Captain) Lewis Millett, today's honorary Colonel of the 27th Regiment, earned the Medal of Honor when he led E Company, 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry in a bayonet assault against a fortified Chinese hilltop. It was described by an Army historian as ". . . the greatest bayonet attack by US soldiers since Cold Harbor in the Civil War." Also during this period, Colonel Michaelis was promoted to Brigadier General and the 27th Regiment's command passed to Colonel Gilbert Check, who had commanded the 1st Battalion since the beginning of the war.

On 16 February, the Wolfhounds, as part of a 25th Infantry Division attack, attacked north to the Han River under a massive artillery barrage. Eleven artillery batteries alone supported the Regiment. This assault in conjunction with other attacks from early January, forced the CCF and NKA forces to withdraw from South Korea.

On 7 March, Preceded by a tremendous artillery preparation, the Regiment assaulted by boat across the Han River near Mugam. This 25th Division advance, which outflanked the Communists in Seoul, would shortly cause the enemy to withdraw from the South Korean capital. The Regiment continued its advance from the Han River until it was relieved near Uijonbu. On 3 April the 27th was again in the attack as part of Operation Rugged, crossing the 38th parallel, where the war had begun ten months earlier. The Regiment received its third Presidential Unit Citation for its actions during the crossing of the Han River.

From early April to mid April, the Regiment continued its advance north finally reaching Line Utah, near Chorwon. On 22 April it advanced further north to Line Wyoming. That same night the CCF attacked again, its objective the recapture of Seoul. At the Hantan River, six Chinese Divisions of 50,000 troops struck against the 27th and the 24th Infantry Regiments. The CCF hit the left sector of the Wolfhounds hard with artillery, infantry, and several tanks. In another remarkable performance, the Regiment held in close, hand to hand fighting. The CCF then backed off in the dark, then hit the right sector of the Wolfhounds. A senior officer remembered: